A Fair Russia lawmaker is suggesting the introduction of strict norms of behavior for schoolchildren and their parents, with criminal proceedings possible for violators, hoping that such a step will make teaching more attractive.

By amending the law on education and the Criminal Code, MP Viktor
Shudegov wants legislation to ban schoolchildren and parents
alike from all “insults, mockery, remands over incompetence,
lecturing, and negatively portraying teachers and parents.”
He also suggests equating physical assault on a teacher at work
to violence against a representative of the authorities.

Insulting a representative of the authorities is a criminal
offence in Russia, punishable with up to one year of correctional
labor. Physical attacks on civil servants and state officials can
carry up to five years in prison, or even 10 years behind bars,
if the attack is recognized as endangering the life or health of
the victim.

Shudegov told the mass circulation daily Izvestia that he and his
colleagues were trying to counter the change of priorities among
the young and the increasing aggressiveness of teenagers. “I
think that the state must protect teachers in the same way it
protects law enforcers because teachers’ service to society is
equally important and beneficial for all,” the lawmaker said.

The MP also noted that underage children can be punished with
remands or expulsion, and adults will bear full responsibility
under his bill.

The current laws against insults and attacks on representatives
of the authorities can be applied to violators of 16 years or
older. Official adulthood in Russia starts from the age of 18.

Conflicts among teachers and pupils are often reported by the
Russian press, but they usually only make it to the courts if
parents get involved. One of the most resonant cases took place
in the Russian Far East in 2010, where a group of boys regularly
hazed their 73-year old PT teacher, filmed the attacks and
uploaded the videos on the internet.

The hooligans enjoyed impunity for some time as the teacher
suffered from dementia and simply forgot what had happened during
the lessons. However, the internet boasting helped to find and
ultimately punish the culprits.